Boeing: Deadly Assumptions

Boeing: Deadly Assumptions

2020, Technology  -   7 Comments
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In early 2019, the worldwide leader in aircraft manufacturing suffered a crisis. Separate plane crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia had left hundreds of passengers dead. Engineers were stumped until they eventually uncovered the culprit: the MAX 737 model was inherently faulty. Boeing: Deadly Assumptions details the inner workings of this investigation and exposes potential cover-ups within the company structure.

The film begins on an appropriate note of mourning. Entire families were taken out in these crashes, and their grieving loved ones have fought to keep their memories alive by seeking the answers and the justice they deserve. The company whistleblowers who are featured in the film share in this mission.

The MAX 737 was a new aircraft with "state-of-the-art" computer software systems that promised to improve upon the plane's handling. In early testing statistics, the flight control software was also shown to be capable of causing a crash every three years. This was an acceptable level of risk for Boeing executives, mainly because they were in a race to beat their competition.

"The plane should never have been approved," states one aviation expert. The software - known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) - was designed to take over controls of the plane. The problem, of course, is that technology has been known to falter. Even the pilots themselves were largely unaware of its limitations. The company went out of their way not to allow their pilots to undergo simulator training on the aircraft.

It wasn't always like this. The film provides background on the airline company, and its importance in communities like Seattle, where Boeing has long been responsible for building a middle class through its workforce.

Following the crashes, the production of new planes came to a halt. But the investigation continued. The film takes Boeing to task for their mishandling and carelessness, but they also expose the culpability of the Federal Aviation Association for their lazy standards of accountability.

The film presents a well-rounded critique of Boeing, and the lax safety standards that the company followed in the name of profit. The movie argues that it was their negligence that led to one of the most devastating and avoidable tragedies in the public transportation sector.

Directed by: Michael Houben, Thomas G. Becker

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XXX
XXX
4 months ago

Outsource the software to India. What could possibly go wrong.

dreamon
dreamon
1 year ago

Mishaps are a cost of doing business, regardless of the type of business.
While it is obviously extremely unfortunate that the mishaps described in this doc resulted in delayed and even some canceled orders, these order issues have fortunately proven robust and resolvable.
Boeing stock, viewed over decades, is solidly positive, and illustrates what really matters to shareholders, and it's not a bunch of "boohoo I lost my entire family" whining.

David Meshigas
David Meshigas
2 years ago

Sloppy and downright careless engineering is NOT new to Being. They have lost principled engineers since the 70's whose consciences would no longer allow them to be part of this reckless culture, a culture exemplified by Boeing's statement that they expected 1 plan to crash every 3 years average and this was an acceptable management decision. Add to that the McDonnell Douglas buy out - remember the DC-10 and Md-80's - and we have a prescription for tragedy.

I, for one, will go out of my way to avoid oeing aircraft in future.

Nayan mipun
Nayan mipun
3 years ago

Profits comes from good value of products and services

Nayan mipun
Nayan mipun
3 years ago

It is better to leave the air craft to the human pilots

Moe Badderman
Moe Badderman
3 years ago

MCAS = May Crash the Aircraft Software